It’s been bandied about so much the past week, you’d think everyone had gathered for a lesson on the Roman Empire.

But you’re going to hear a lot more of it when the New England Patriots and New York Giants meet in Super Bowl XLII today at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

This is about football, and not just any football, but the Super Bowl.

And as it has evolved, not just any Super Bowl.

“It’s the biggest game of our lives,” said Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. “We’re going to be remembering this game for as long as we live. Win or lose, we’re either going to have great memories of this experience or we’re looking at a truly missed opportunity.”

This from a man who has already won threeSuper Bowls.

The historical aspect, of course, comes courtesy of the perfect New England Patriots. Win and they complete the first 19-0 season in NFL history, and first perfect season since the Miami Dolphins went 17-0 in 1972.

Lose and they become the first undefeated team to ever lose a Super Bowl.

“One way or another, somebody’s going to make history,” said Giants cornerback Sam Madison.

Brady is looking at joining Super Bowl legends Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana as the only quarterbacks to win four Super Bowls.

This is the Patriots’ fourth Super Bowl appearance in seven years, and they are 3-0 in the others.

Perfection is everywhere.

Win and there’s no doubt this is dynasty material, one to rate with the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers of years past.

Win and maybe – maybe – the focus will fall more on their accomplishments and less on Spygate. Win and the argument will rage whether this Patriots team is the greatest of all time.

“A great team is a team that can be debated,” Patriots linebacker Junior Seau said. “An ever team, you can’t dispute. You pull away from the league. It’s something special worldwide, not just in the game of football. We have that chance.”

The Patriots started last week by pretending they were simply focusing on the game and not wrapped up in any ultimate designation, but as the week unfolded they dropped all pretense.

Something special is at stake, and they are eager to seize it.

“To be in the position that we’re in now is very satisfying,” Patriots defensive lineman Vince Wilfork said. “But we won’t be satisfied until we play Sunday and hopefully walk away with a win.

“How do you want it to end? Do you want to be 18-1 or 19-0?”

People expect them to win, of course, which would explain why they are a 12-point favorite.

Those hoping for an upset, or at least a competitive game, can point to a couple of encouraging aspects. Brady and the Patriots won each of their previous three Super Bowls by threepoints. Nothing close to a blowout.

And then there is the matter of their last regular-season game, when the Patriots had to rally for a dramatic 38-35 victory over the Giants.

A Giants team that had nothing on the line.

Their confidence seemed to swell even in defeat.

They have won a record 10 consecutive road games and most seem to agree they have played their finest football of the season in the playoffs.

Quarterback Eli Manning, beleaguered during his time in New York, now is heralded. He has yet to throw a postseason interception.

It’s generally conceded the Giants will have to run the ball and try to keep the explosive Patriots offense off the field as much as possible to pull off the upset.

And with New England averaging a league-best 411.3 yards and 36.8 points per game, there will be pressure on the Giants to score on almost every possession – and not of the 3-point variety.

“There’s no question,” Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress said. “When you have Tom Brady and Randy Moss and all of those guys out there, your mind-set as an offensive team is to score touchdowns, not field goals.

“When you’re playing those guys, you have to score every time you touch it.”

This from a man who infamously predicted the Giants would win 23-17.

“It’s all entertainment,” Burress said. “We’re having fun with it.”

Most of the Patriots’ acclaim centers on the star-filled offense.

New York’s hope is that it can wear down the New England defense, particularly its veteran linebacking corps. But the Patriots had the fourth-ranked defense in the league in both yards (288.3) and points (17.1) allowed per game.

The New England defense is often simply overshadowed by the offense.

If the Patriots are not playing at their oh-my-lord peak from earlier in the year, they are not far off.

And now it’s all there for them, the building of every victory down to a final game.

It’s supposed to be cloudy today, with a chance of showers.

Not that anything could rain on the Patriots’ parade should they complete this historic season.

“I’ve been in a lot of big games, but all of us would agree this is the biggest game of our lives,” New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi said.

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.